On March 8, 2012, the U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee passed H.R. 452, the "Medicare Decisions Accountability Act" by a voice vote. This vote comes on the heels of a vote to pass this legislation earlier this week in the House Energy and Commerce Committee and it clears the way for the likely full House of Representatives legislative consideration of H.R. 452 later this month.
Sponsored by Rep. Phil Roe, (R-TN), H.R. 452 would repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA)-created Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB), an unaccountable and unelected board with sweeping powers to mandate across-the-board or other targeted reductions to Medicare payments including cuts to payments for physicians.
ASA signed a joint letter with IPAB Repeal Coalition partners to members of the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce to repeal the onerous provision. ASA co-founded the IPAB Repeal Coalition, which has grown to include over 42 medical organizations including ASA. Key members of the ASA Grassroots Network were also activated to contact their local member of Congress in support of the repeal legislation.
ASA will continue to build Congressional support for repeal of IPAB.
Read the Ways and Means Committee chairman’s opening statement.
Read the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee chairman’s opening statement.